matlock



Oct. 11,1927. Re'. 16,765

C. MATLQCK uETaoD AND APPARATUS FOR PRoDUcInG CARBON originl Filed Jan. a. 1921 2 sheetsheet 1 sa E 5;- i

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. Y kBy l l f v,l m (E A TTORNEY Od. l1 1927. Re. 16,76?,i

c. kMATLOCKl l ETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CRBO N original Fild Jan. s. 1921 2 suea-Sheet 2- ATTORNEY ume of gasthan has hitherto Reinaed oef.l 11', 1921.

4 la'galavts" UNITED STATES PATE-Nr? orrica."A j

enunciar nrLocx, or BROOKLYN,- New vonk, salentini .ro nomma-LOUISIANA CARBON COMPANY, 0F MONBQE, L OUI simu, a conronl'rron or DELAWARE.

AHE'JJHQID AND APPARATUS FQB PRODUCING 'CARBON'.

original no. 1,4581351', dated 11111612, 192s, serial 5reissue led July 31, 1826. Serial No. 126,304.

This invention relates to the disassociation of the constituents of hydrocarbons and particularly' to the disassociation of a hydrocarbon gas and the collection and recovd ery of the elemental carbon therefrom.

The object of my invention generally is to obtain an improved quality of carbon black from a hydrocarbon gas, forA example natural gas, and to recover a larger proportion of the carbon constituent er .unitvolwith man known methods and devices.v

A furt er object of my invention 1s a method and an apparatus for producing'car bon black .whereby the cost' of installation and operationof the' plant are reduced to la minimunqfand. the'eliiciency of productionv generally improved, the operation accordused for producing v it `unsuitable vfor certain of its uses. l .over the apparatus usually employed v1s lng to this method, being continuous and non-intermittent.

The method and apparatus .generally mercial scale'cons1sts in partially' burning as or other hydrocarbon gas a multiplicity "-of miniature the individual flames or ustion to play upon the naturalby means o burners and causin products of *comi `chilled surfaces*Whiereon a, portion of the carbon content is deposited and subsequently scraped olf. The black thus obtainedy often contains metallic iron and scale, and othery impurities and characteristics which render crude and comparatively expensive to build and the collectingV devices wear very rapidly,

l which is l peculiarly ,I mentioned injurious necessitating periodic replacements.A Fur- -ther the usual commercial plants are cumberf some andV occupy large areas.

- Certain other methods have been suggested fr the manufacture of carbon black, but

none of them appear to have reached the prac' tical-or commercial stage of development. .Accordingly to my improvements I produce a, 'car on of an improvedA character coi'istitue'ts and undesirable characteristics, and moreoverr- I Vob- .tain larger quantities' of-ffcarboli `perunitv volumer of gas andlina more eliicient and less expensive` manner. than is possible with.,

known methods and devices` A Generally stated, -my improvements reside inthe continuous partial or incomplete comv een possible.

More-- mi. 435,071, 1aed January s, rsa1. appin1atm11 lf mbustion of the hydrocarbon gas inv acomparatively, large furnace' by sup lyingfto the furnace and'to the gaseous iiiime predetermined quantities of .air which are iri- @utlicient for complete combustion, and the passing of the resultant products of combustionthrough a lsuitable collector for Aisolat-l ing the liberated carbon therefrom.

I have found that the quality of the carbon yield is substantially improved by a careful and accurate'adjustment of the mix.- ture of air (oxygen containin gas supplied to the furnace, and particularly. by the manner in which the mixture `is accomplished. For example, the admission of the air' into the furnace beneath the burners airis automatically supplied in regulated quantities and -at predetermined pressures (preferabl only slightly above' atmos vpheric). airly good results have been obtained by automatically air according. to predetermined proportions before the mixture reaches sion of the air at points beneath vthe fla-me. This application is directed more ,particularly to methods and devices tending toward these ends as applied to the incomplete combustion of the gas and separation ofthe carbon as aforesa1d.-' Iv refer also to employ these methods and deviges inl connection with certain other of my improvements in the manufacture of) carbon as. willy appear hereinafter; 'A

In-:the practice of my invention I have devised a furnace witlrfa battery of comparatively large burners or gas intakes with their mouths opening into the furnace 'at points a short dist-ance from the bottom ofthe chamber, and with an air intake or `intakes dis osed below the level of the burners:` The agent) and the flame zone, but I now prefer to eliect mixture by admis,v

gives good results, particularly When--thei'- 15 mixing the gas and ydrocarbon gas issuing from the lgas vi`n` takes is Ycaused to burn very slowly and lazily 'by supplying thereto predeterminedquamtities. of air, but insuicient to poduccompletel combustion, the gasbe'` fsup a essuieaboye atmosphere-an the urning ta 'ng place at -thedesired pressure. Means areiproyided for regulating the pressure and thevolumecf the gas su plied-to the burn- *and fli automatica sup lying the exact u'antity o .air required to.

furnace. Prelei-ably conplied at ly regulating` and sists of a rotary fan or blowerl as good re-` thereof elevated to the desired degree for l most eiiicient operation. Provision is made for the gradual exhaustl of the resulting products and gases through a restricted outlet near the to of the lfurnace. products with t e liberated carbon are conducted roin this outlet through a cooling system or circuit of restricted dimensions for reducing the temperature, increasing the density and reducing the volume and thence to a collector where the carbon is separated .from/the other constituents. The collector is preferably either of the electrical p tation .type or of the closed' bag ti tration type. A fan or blower together with an exhaust regulator is provided for the/ ur ose of assisting to maintain the natural ra of the products of combustion and-to' impart thereto the required velocity through the restricted passages of the cooling system, as I find that'the eiciency of' operation and pro- 'duction is thereby increased. This fan may be dispensed with, however, in cases Where 'the desired draft is otherwise obtained. The

h otgases with the .liberated carbon in sus? pension are Idrawn through the conduits at sufficient `velocity to carry along therewith the greater portion of any locculent carbon which may be precipitated in the cooling pipes, and substantially the whole of the liberated carbon which leaves the furnace with the gases is borne to the collector and thence recovered. f'

The advantages of my improved method and apparatus will more fully appear from the following detail description and the ac- `companying drawings, the latter being diagrammatic illustrations of the system and apparatus according to certain modifications,

Figure 1 is a diagrammaticdrawing 'of a system embodying Imy improvements.

]igure 2 is a modification of the: furnac an air intakes illustrated in Figure 1. L

, Figure 3 is a diagrammatic drawing of a modification of the system shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 is an illustration of a modified i form of collector.

-in icated for controlling the c Referring to these drawings I have illustrated in section a furnace '1, this furnace being of large or generous dimensions as compared with certain of the other-elements of the aV paratus. v There are provided-a num-A ber 'o burners 2 (only two being illustrated) which are supplied with a hydrocarbon gas,

vfor example natural gas, through ai supply pi 3 lead to a gas main 4L A valve 5 is gas circuitv and 'preferably the circuit is .provided with a gas pressure regulator (not illustrated) `for the The hot recipiiemusv purpose ofv supplying gas at a substantially 'I 4uniform and constant pressure.

of air through the opening Gland own"A tit belbvr the burners 2. A regulator 8 is provided for adjusting the size of the opening 6 and thereby enabling cooperation with the blower: for effecting accurate control of the quantity of air' supplied. This regulator may be of any conventional form, but is illustrated as ofthe shutter .type by which -means the air opening may be adjusted to the required area to give the exact antity of air at atmospheric pressure de'sire It is noted that the burners 2 are disposed near vthe bottom of the furnace and that the air 6 is disposed slightly below thc y Y level o these burners, this arrangement liavim openin ing been found to give good results. It is understoodjliowever, that this arrangement may be varied in some respects without departing from the spirit of the invention. l

Nearthe'top of. the furnace 1 there 1s provided a-restricted outlet 9Awhich leads to a cooling circuit or system '10. From the cooling system 10 the furnace outlet leads lthrough a heater 11 and from thence to a collector 12. The cooling system consists of a pipe of restricted dimensions as compared to the volume of the furnace and a water spraysystem 13 which may continuously spray cold waterv upon the cooling pipes 10 for the purpose of reducing the temperature of the' products of combustion passing therethrough. The degree of cooling may be regulated by ad]usting the supply of water to @he spraying system as for instance byanean of a valve 14 in the water main. The cooling pipes 10 areaabserved to front to the rearmostend. This reduction in cross section ma be made because the product of combustion may be reduced in volume as they are cooled by contactwith the cooliii pipes. I The resulting increase iny Twodiiferent types of collectors are illus-iVA trated, collector 12 being of the bagiiltration type and collector 12 (Fig.- 4) being ofthe electrical precipitation type. g The collector-12 consists generallyofa container, preferably of cylindrical shape, with the hopper 15 on the lower part or collecting the carbon as it falls by gravity or is caused tol fallfrom tlie filtration bags. The filtration bags are .indicated diagrammatically at slightly diminish lin" cross section -4from the c ich vfico illustrated a novel chain arrangement for.

loosening the carbon. The chain .19 being suspended from the bar 20 and the whole being mounted upon a crank 21 whereby the chains may `be given the necessar Inovement for contacting with and jost ing the bagls. The chains referably are suspended to an downward y within the bags.

A b ower or exhauster 22 is provided for assisting the natural draft of the system, the blower bein connected with the upper part of the colector container through a conduit 23. There is disposed within this conduit a regulating valve 24 whereby the exhaust or draftpressure may be regulated or adjusted to a` nicety.. f

The operation of the system may bedescribed substantially as follows:l

The natural gas having been turned on (at a pressure above' that of. the atmosphere), the burners are lighted and the air regulator 8 and blower 7 adjusted to supply 0 positively the exact quantity of air .desired -Tor the most eiicient operation of the sys- -tem and the products of combustion resulting from the incomplete combustion of the natural gas gradually accumulate in the furnace until t e upper part thereof is com- I pletely filled with the gases and the liberated carbon in sus ension. The main gate 25 in the circuit eing open the products of combustion with the suspendedI liberated carbon-begin to circulate through the coollng system 10 and the blower 22 together with its regulating'val've 24 are adjusted to `give an exhaust pressure and velocity suiriucient to carry the products of combustion together with the 'suspended carbo'n through the restrictedcooling system and through theiiltration bags 16 of the collector. The velocity the greater whichV is precipita-ted'orrbecomes deposited uponthe'lnner walls of the cooling circuit is carried along with the mainjstrea'm of products of'comb'ustion into-thecollector so that the eat portion of the liberated carbon whic leaves the furnace through the outlet 9 actually reaches the collector and is there filtered out and deposited into the hopper 15,` the cleansed gases ,passi out through a` conduit 23 and the blower 22.-

I have found that the bag collectors oper,- -ate very eiciently to filter out th iberated Vcarbon and that they work particu arly well at temperatures below'i225 F. Efficient results for example have been obtainefk with the operation of the collector gases at a temin thegcooling circuit is such that portion of iiocculent carbonperature of 170 F. to 225 F. I have also found that with the proper adjustment of the gas and air supplied to'the furnace and with a proper balance of the system including the lcareful adjustmentotl the exhaust Y pressure and the degree of cooling that th'e carbon black recovered vin the hopper 15 is a particularly desirable commercial product'and is free from the above noted injurious constituents and. undesirable' qualities; moreover the yield. of carbon per unit of gas is found to be greater than the yield of carbon produced by many known methods and devices.

These results are noticeable to a. certam devree under lvarious conditions of o eration, but are particularly marked with temperatures, inthe furnace running abo-ve 1200o F. For exam le with tem eratures in the furnace of 1400D F. to 18000 F. (as

measured by pyrometer 28), and with careful adjustment of tl1e`ai1 admitted into the furnace, both the yield and quality of carbon produced are good. A test of the gases v near the top of the furnace with lone adju-Stment showed a. total absence of free oxygen,

a small percentage (1.8%) f carbon monoxide (CO) ,and a larger percentage (7.7%) of carbon dioxide. (CO2). Good results 'were' obtained with adjustments giving otherl percentages' of thesegase.- Itis also observed that with an. adjustment such that the products of combustion and intermixed gases are all retained above the level of the burners 2,' the yield` and quality are good. For example,` las indicated in F igure 1, Athere seems under certain conditions .to be a clear and defined dividing line or blanket ,29 between the ases 30 above and the air'` below vthis l-Ine, and

the air entei ng .the furnace and collectingr beneath-this blanket is probably preheated to a certain devree before it enters the coinbustion and dlsassociation space. The 1ncreased yield of carbon per unit of gas at the. 1L:

higher temperature operation is probably due to the cooperation of all the elements'v of l.

my process and apparatus, although it may be due in part to -some disa:sociationV of 'the' 'carbon and hydrogen: of unburned gas which 'may reach the high temperature regions of the furnace without being burned by the dame. For instance, a portion only of the disassociated and liberated carbon recovered inthe collector may come from'the incomplete combustion while the remainder may e due to carbon which' is thermally disassociated from unburned gas (CH4 methane and .C21-L,4 ethane) escapingl through the fiames into the high temperature reglons of the furnace, the liberated hydrogen being burned to water. It is understood, however, that I do not limit my improvements to any particular theory of operation, as it may vdevelop later that the good results obtained are based upon a diffrent theory of operation and reactions-taking place.

I have also found that the electrical precipitator cooperates to a particular degree with my other'apparatus to produce a large yield `of carbon per unit of gas, althouvh vI now prefer for cert-ain reasons the bag hllose a: portion of the water or vapor contentv .and the elevation of the temperature above point before passage through the tration system.

For the purpose ,of relieving the furnace l of the products of combustion or for other reasons anoutlet 26 is posed near the'top of the furnace, adoor 27 being positioned upon the upper end of the pipe 26 for the purpose of opening or closing the same. The heater 1l is in the n-ature of a steam" chamber 'for preheating the cooled products of combustion before they enter the collectors. This'may be desirable in certain cases to raise lthe temperature `of the gases above the dew orvaporization points before they pass through the collectors. By a proper adjustment of the cooling and exhaust system the. gases may be expected to the dewl collector insures `the passage ofthe greater portion of the water. content through the collector and out with, the cleansed gases as a.

water vapor.

In Figure 2 I have illustrated a modified form of furnace construction and air, distribution. According to. this modification the furnacesprovided with a false bottom 31 of a construction and material sueh'that it may withstand the .temperatures in that zone of the'furnace, and this false bottom is provided lwith a multiplicity of airopenings 32 through which' theeair may .pass upwardly into the combustion zone from the chamber beneath.y Thexair is admitted to this chamber below the false bottom .through the opening-6';l and is sup lied preferabl Vby means,

of a blower (not i lustrated) which supplies the' air in predetermined and regulated .quantities to the air chamber..y `It is believed that this arrangement including tlfe false'- bottom with the'multiplicity of air openings' tendsto'lsm'ooth out and avoid anyl undue drafts in the furnace aboveV the false bottom and therefore tends to' give a steadier and more efficient operation. The burners 2 are supplied by gas supply pipes 3', which preferably extend into the air chamber below the f provided and is dis-l and air mixture thus effected is forced through the supply pipe 3 to the burners 2. This arrangement is desirable in cert-ain cases although I 'now prefer the system mined and adusted proportions. The gas -Wlerein the air is supplied in the required quantities directly to the combustion s ace of the furnace independently of the in owing gas. In each of the various forms of the invention a substantially uniform mixing of the hydrocarbon ahd fuel is obtained prior to, or in the early stages of combustion and the partial` combustion reaction is carried on under uniform conditions which may be adjusted to suit the characteristics peculiar to any type of hydrocarbons which may be used inthe production of-the carbons.

The disturbing influence of cooling plates, unguarded inflow of air and other influences which might effect the combustion reaction and impair the quality or yield of the carbon are .therefore excluded.

In accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have set forth only one form of the many, forms my invention is capable of assuming. The drawings are urposely diagrammatic for Iconvenience in illustration, and it is understood that the claims annexed hereto are not to be construed as limited to the exact methods and devices illustrated, except as is specifically recited therein,'butl are to -be construed to cover all modicationscoming within the spirit of lthe invention.

Iclaimf A 1. -An apparatus for producing carbon which comprises a furnace having a free, spacious, combustion chamber, means` Afor supplying air and gas to said furnace, means for intimately mixing said air and gas and thereafter burning sa1d. mixture ases in a manner to form reev carbon, sai furnace,

bein'g free from heat abstracting or heat utiliz'ingmear'is.`

2. An apparatus yfor producing carbon which comprises av furnace having a. free,

spacious, combustion chamber, means for supplying air andgas to said furnace, and neans'for mixing said air and gas and thereafter burning sa1d1mixed gases in a manner `to form a suspension of free carbon in said gases, said-furnace. beingffree from heat abks tracting or heat utilizing means.

3.. In an apparatus for -separating and recovering carbon black from ia hydrocarbon gas, the combination of a furnace having a i spacious combustion chamber together with gas burners adapted yto receive and partially' urn the gas in a lfreely flowing mass by the supply thereto of. air inV quantities insuf- `ficient for complete combustion, means for vsupplying to sa1d furnace and burners redetermined quantities of air, and a coo ing and collecting system' for receiving the resultant products.

` 4. Inkan apparatus for separating and recovering carbon black` from a hydrocarbon,

i wherein the resultant products are -a comparatively high velocity.-

5. In an a paratus for separating and recoverin car on black from a hydrocarbon, the com ination of a furnace arranged to permit a free unobstructed flow of burning ases,l a .burner for receiving the hydrocarn and artially burning the same, a device for supp ying-a predetermined proportion of airQto theburnersfor the purpose set forth, and means for coolinethe resultant content. f

products andisolatingthe l1 rated carbon 6.`In an apparatus for separatin and recovering carbon from aI hydrocar on dgas, the combination of a furnace arrange tol permit a free unobstructed flow of. burning f tities and v'8., In-,alnapparatus for separati covering cail rot-ary blower `for A sup gases, and burners adapted to receive and partially burn thegas, a rotary blower and'v regulating means for 'supplying to thefurnace and to the 'burners predetermined uanproportions of air, and a co lectforreceiving the resulting products of combustion .fromv the' furnace Aand isolating the liberated carbon therefrom.

7. In an apparatus for separatin' and re-` covering carbon black from a hy rocarbon gas, the combination of a furnace arranged to permit 'afreel-unobstructed iow of burning gases, af'burner adapted to receive and "partially burn the gas, a rotary blower and regulating `means for supplying to 'said b urner' redeter'mined proportions 'and quansystem for receiving the resulting roducts of combustion, from the furnace andisolating the liberated carbon therefrom.-

n and re' n black from a hydgrocarbon as, the combination of a furnace lwith ur'nersin thelower portion thereof forreceiving and partially burning the gas, aV

plying predetermined Iproportions and quantities of air to said furnace at a point or points lbelow the level Vof v said burners, amLmeans for Asubjecting the isolating process. y l

9. In an apparatus for'separating and rereslilting productsof; combustion toa carbon i covering car n black from 'a hydrocarbon gas, the combination of a .furnace with a burner thereinfadapted to receive and partially burn the gas, `means for vadmitting regulated qu ntities of air to said furnace at a point points below the level of the burner,and imeans for subjecting the resulting' products of combustion to a carbon isolating process. l

10. Inan apparatus for separating and readapted to receive and partial y burn the gas, a rotary blower with regulating means adapted to supply predetermined quantities and proportions of air to the furnace andl the burners, a cooling system of restricted dimensions through which the products of combustion are ada tedV to ass, a collector ada tedto receiveft e coole prod-( ucts and isola'te the liberated carbon, and means for establishing the circulation of the products of combustion from the furnace and through the cooling and collecting system. I

I2. In an apparatus for separating and recovering carbon black from a hydrocarbon gas, a furnace ha'ving a false bottom and -an air chamber therebeneath, and burners disposed above the false bottom. -13. In .l an apparatusfor separating and recovering carbon black from a hydrocarbon gas, a furnace having gas burners disposed in the lower part thereof, said furnace having a false bottom just below the lever of the burners and said' false bottom being per- Y yforatedfor' admitting air from beneaththe ntitieso` air, and a cooling and collecting false bottom ta and around .the zones of ,the burners for the purpose set forth. *l*

14,'.A process of producing and recovering carbon black from ahydrocarbon' which com/prises partially burning a hydrocarbon in a chamber in a uniform an oxidizing agent insuliicient for complete combustiomra idly cooling the products of combustion-an passing them through a suitable collector'for isolatingthe carbon black.

manner with 15. A -process of producing and recovering carbonblack from a hydrocarbon gas which'v comprises partially; burning thegas in a uniform manner in a chamber with' a regulated uantity of an oxidizing agent insuliicient or complete combustion', maintaining said gases in said chamber without abstract-in substantial uantities of heat until the esired react-ion as been obtained,

thereupon.` rapidly' chilling said reaction formed from t e gaseous product.

, comprises partiall carbons in a chamber of sufficiently large di` mansions to maintain a body of products of products outside the combustion chanber and separatin the carbon black the eby 16. A process of forming and recovering carbon black from a hydrocarbon gas which comprises partially burning the gas ina chamber out of intimate contact with cooling surfaces with an oxidizing agent insuicient for com" lete combustion, rapidly cool# ing the pro ucts of said combustion and separatingv the carbon black from the gaseous reaction products. A

17. A process of forming and recovering carbon black from natural gas which comprises partially oxidizing the h d rocarbons with a regulated quantity of oxi izing agent vinsufficient for complete combustion while avoiding uncontrolled cooling v,during said oxidation and thereupon rapidly chilling the products ofcombustion.

18. A process of formi-ng and recovering carbon black from a hydrocarbon gas which fand uniformly oxidizing the gas in a ody protectedfromy uncontrolled abstraction of heat during said oxidation and thereupon rapidly lchilling said products. c 19. Aprocess of forming and recovering carbon black from a hydrocarbon gas Awhich com rises partially burning said gas with an oxi izingaagent in quantities insufficient to completely oxidize said hydrocarbons, completmg said partial oxidation-of said hydrocornbustlon andv exhausting thar products from said chamber through a cooling system of restricted dimensions whereby .a rapid cooling of said products immediately u o tained.

20. A process of which consists in e ccting incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons in a furnace of com paratively large dimensions-'and exhausting' the resulting roducts `from 'a pointnear the top of said urnace and passing them at a high velocit through a cooling systeml of comparative yzrestricted and gradually decreasing dimensions and then toa collector or separator. l

V carboirb ackrom a hydrocarbon gas which quantity ocit through af cooling circuit to insure rapi chilling of said products immediately.

upon leaving said chamber. u

22. The method of separating and recoverl ing carbon black from a natural gas, consistingrfirst ofb'partiallyburning the gas t`sub-- n their Withdrawal from said furnace 'l roducing carbon black forming and recovering stantially atmospheric pressurejin a gnam-l7 lber by supplying thereto predetermined quantities of oxygen or an oxygen containing agent but insufficient for complete combustion and second the passing of the resulting products through a cooling chamber gas, confining the products of combustion in the furnace tocomplete the interaction and then isolating the said carbon black. A

211. Ihe method of separating and recovering carbon black from natural gas, con` sisting first of partially burning the gas in ssing -them to a'suitable collector fon a chamber of substantially atmosphericpressure by-supplying thereto an oxidizing agent in quantities insuiicient for complete )combustion and thereby liberating af-portion of the carbon content and second passing the resulting products of combustion at a comparatively high velocity through a cool-- ing system, cooling themto a temperature Abelow 225 F., and thence through a bag collector for isolating the said carbon black.

'carbon black from'a hydrocarbon, consisting of liberating' andj freeing a portion of the carbon content in a furnace and passing the 25. `The continuous method of recovering dissociated gas vwith the .suspended `carbon at a comparatively high velocity to a car-` bon collector.

. 26. The method yof s roducing carbonblack Whichconsists in e ecting incomplete combustion of natural gas at substantially.

atmdspheric pressure andin. a furnace of comparatively 'large dimensions and storage capacity taking` the resulting products from 'through a cooliii'gnsystem of restricted dimensions and through a carbon separator at a 'sufficiently high velocity to carry along the greater portion ofl any flocciilent carbon. and prevent its depositionon the'jwall of the- 28. A process of forming carbon black which comprises maintaining a body of hot products ofcombustion in aclosed combustion chamber Without substantialexternal cooling, introducing into and burning in im@ the top of thefurnacefand passing-themy c Said furnace.

quantity of hydrocarbons ing said ysaid combustion chamber regulated proportions of hydrocarbons and air insuflicient for complete oxidation of said' hydrocarbons and thereafter withdrawing and rapidly cooling said products of combustion from producing carbon black 29. A process of supplying aregulated which comprises chamber, admitting va. quantity of air to said cham saidJ hydrocarbons to form carbon, trapping and maintaining a body of productsof combustion into` which said hydrocarbons and air are passed and withdrawing and rapidly chilling products of combustion' from said furnace.

30. ,A process of producingcarbon black which comprises maintaining a body of hot products of combustion in an enclosed space, supplying air and vhydrocarbons to said body of hot products of combustion in proportion to obtain a desired degree of partial combustion of said hydrocarbons caushydrocarbons and air to. slowly burnin said body of liot products of combustion until the desired degree of combustion is obtained and thereupon withdrawing Y' and un temperatures above 1200 ing carbon from a p supplying thereto and quickly chilling the products of comustion. 31. The method of producin and recovering 'carbon from a hydrocar on gas, confirst of partially burning the gas by supplying thereto an oxidizing agent in quantities insufiicient for complete combustion and under conditions resulting in surrounding furnace temperatures of above 1000 F., and second subjecting the resulting products to a carbon isolating operation. 32. The method of producing and recovering'carbon from a hydrocarbon gas, consisting of Vcausing the gas to issue continuously to a furnace of large dimensions, parally burning the gas by supplying thereto an oxidizing agent in quantities'insuflicient for complete combustion confining the resultant roducts andgases in the furnace dlr conditions resulting in furnace F. and ultimately removing the hot gases and subjecting the resulting products to a carbon isolating operation. Y

33. The method of producing and recoverhydrocarbon gas, consisting of causing the gas to issue continuously into a furnace, partially burning the gas by an oxidizing agent in quantities insufficient for complete combustion, confining the resultant products and gases in the lfurnace and under conditions resulting in temperatures in thefurnace of above 1200 F., gradually withdrawing the products and gases from the furnace and passin them at acomparatively high velocity throng a cooling and Vcollecting system for to a combustion ber regulated to incompletely burnlproducts through ing carbon from from the furnace the purpose of isolating the liberated carbon.

l 34. The method of producing and recovering carbon froma hydrocarbon gas, consistlng of causing the gas to issue continuously into a furnace of large dimensions, partially burning the gas by supplying thereto an oxldizing agent in quantities insufficient for complete combustion, confining the resultant products in the furnaceiand under conditions resulting in temperatures of above 1200 F.

in the furnace, reducing the volume and passing the gases through a cooling system, and finally subjecting the gases to a carbon isolating operation. f

35. The method of producing and recovering carbon from a'hydrocarbon gas, consisting of causing the into a furnace at a thereof, partially burning the gas by admitting air beneath thegas inlet inl quantities insufficient fory complete combustion. confining the gases' in the upper part of the furnace at a temperature above l200 F., subjecting'the resulting p roducts to a cooling operation, and nally exhausting them gas to issue continuously point near the bottom through a suitable collector for isolating the liberated carbon. 36. The method of producing and recovering carbon from a hydrocarbon gas, consisting in partially burning'the gas, subjecting the resulting products ficient to cause dissociation ofl an unburned gas and under conditions preventing recombination, and finally subjecting the products to a carbon isolating operation.

to a temperature suf- 37.A The method of producing and recoveringcarbon from a hydrocarbon gas, consisting of partially burning the gas and subjecting theproducts to a temperature sufficient to cause dissociation of any unburned gas by heat energy from the incomplete combustion, and then passing the resultant a suitable collector or sep- 'arator'for the purpose of isolating the carbon.

38. The method of producing and recover- Y a hydrocarbon gas in a continuousV manner, consisting in subjecting the gas with insufficient air for complete combustion to a temperature suficient to cause dissociation of the hydrocarbon content, and

under conditions preventing recombination, v

removing the resultant gasses from the high temperature regions, and subjecting the ducts to a carbon isolating operation. v l 39. The method of roducing and recovering carbon fromV a ydrocarbon gas 1n a continuous manner consisting first 1n supjecting the gas to a temperature sufficient to cause 'dissociation of the hydrocarbons, second cooling the products of combustion,- an third passing the cooled bagcollector or separator for the 4purpose of isolating the suspended carbon 40. The method of producing car on from proproducts through l articles.

-als

.carbon gas in a furnace of comparatively large dimensions and under conditions resulting in temperaturesin the upper part of the furnace of above 1400 F. and in products of combustion containing more than three times as much carbon dioxide ascarbon monoxide, taking the resulting products from the furnace and passing them at a high ve-y locity through acoolinor system `of restrict- `ed dimensions, and slibjecting the' cooled products to a carbon-isolating operation.

4 4. A proce of roducing carbon black which comprises e ecting incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon'gas in a furnace by supplyingto 'the lower part thereof and beneath the flamethe desired quantity of air, exhausting the products of combustion from the upper part ofthe and adjusting the balance in said furnace to .i bon, the combination of a furnace for receivmaintain the products of combustion in the furnace above the level of the burners.

45. A process of producing carbon black which comprises mixin hydrocarbons with 'an amount of air sufficient to incompletely oxidize said hydrocarbons, igniting said mixture of air and hydrocarbons and complating the partial combustion of said hydrocarbons in an atmos of combustion and out o surfaces.

46. In an a paratus for separatingv and recovering car on black from a hydrocar-` here of products contact with cold ing and partially burning the hydrocarbon by supplying thereto oxygen in quantities. insuflicient for completecombus'tion, a cooling system through which the products of combustion are conducted from said sfu nace, a heating circuit through which-the products of combustion are conducted after passingA through the cooling system, a collector for separating the liberated 'carbon which is also Ainterposed in the circulating circuit, and a suction fan for maintaining a draft throughv the system from the furnace to and through the collector.

47. In an apparatus for separating 'and t producing carbon from a. hydrocarbon which n furnace. and subjectying the same to a carbon isolating operation intake leading into takes recovering carbon black froma hydrocarbon, the combination of a'furnace adapted to partially burn abstraction ofa substantial quantity of heat therefrom with air in insuilicient quantities for complete combustion, a cooler, tar for separating the carbon from the gases, and means connecting thev upper part of the furnace with thecooler and the co1- lector whereby the products of combustion inthe furnace may be exhausted through the cooler and 'finally throughl the collector for the purpose set forth.

48. In an apparatus for separating and recovering carbon black from a hydrocared to partially burn a hydrocarbon gas without the abstraction of substantial quantities of heat therefrom by'supplying thereto air in" quantities insufficient or complete combustion, a cooler for reducing the temperature of the products of combustion, a collector for receiving tion, and a blower with means connecting the furnace, cooler, collector and a'suction fan in a circuit whereby combustion from the `furnace may through the system.

49. In an apparatus for separating and recovering carbon blackA from a hydrocarbon gas, the combination lof a furnace adapted to partially burn a hydrocarbon gas be 'drawn' without the abstraction of a substantial quantity of heat by supplying an insuilicient amount of oxygen thereto rfor complete com'- bustion, a collector for receiving the products of combustion from the furnace and separating the liberated `carbon therefrom, and a suction' fan for assisting in the maintenance of a draft from the furnace to and through the collector for the purpose set forth.

50. In an a paratus for separating and recovering carbon black /froin a hydrocarbon gas, the combination of a furnace adapted to partially burn a vhydrocarbon 'gas Without lthe abstraction of a substantial quantity of heat by supplyin an insufficient amount of oxygen for comp ete combustion, and a collector for receiving the products of combustion from the furnace and sepa, rating -the liberated. carbon from the gases,

with means connecting thefurnace with the collectorv for the purpose set forth.

51. In an a paratus for' separating and recovering car on black from a hydrocarbongas, -the combinationl of ay combustion chamber, a gas intake for supplying the hy- ,drocarbon .continuously to said combustion chamber atl a-predetermined pressure, an air said furnace together with means for regulating the quantity ofY air fsu plied, said furnace and air'and gaa ining arran burn freely without the abstraction of sub-I a hydrocarbon without the a collecthe products of combusl the products of gedto permit the gases to so bon gas, the combination of a furnace adaptv lll stantial quantities of heat, and means for receiving the resulting products of combustion from the furnace and separating the liberated carbon from the gases.

52. In an apparatus for separating and recovering carbon blackA from a hydrocarbon gas, the combination of a furnace for-repurpos'e'set forth.' L

" 55. In an apparatus for separating andceiving and partially burning the hydrocarbon in a gaseous phase by the supply of insufficient air for complete combustion, means for continuously supplying the hydrocarbon gas to the furnacexat a point near the bottom thereof, a regulator for said gas supply means, means for supplyingA a predetermined quantity of air to the furnace at a point slightly below the level of the gas intakes, 4said furnace being arranged to burn said gases freely without the abstraction of substantial quantities of heat and a collector which is adapted to receive the products of combustion from the furnace and separate the liberated carbon from the gases.

53. In an apparatus for separating and recovering carbon black from a hydrocarbon gas, the combination of a furnace adapted to receive and artially burn a hydrocarbon in a gaseous paseby the supplyof an 1nsuiicient amount of air for complete combustion, means for supplying gas at a predetermined pressure continuously to said furnace, `regulatable means for supplying a predetermined quantity of airto said furnace, said furnace being arranged to permit the gases to burn freely Without the abstraction of substantial quantities of heat, a co1- lector for receiving the products of combustion from the furnace and separating the liberated carbon from the gases, and a cooler interposed between the furnace and the collector for the purpose set forth.

54. In? an apparatus for separating and recovering carbon black from a'hydrocarbon gas, the combination of a furnace adapted to receive and partially burn a hydrocarbon gas by the supply of an insucient amount 0f oxygen for complete combustion, means for continuously supplying gas atv a p redeterminded pressure-to said furnace, air regulatable means for supplying a predetermined quantity of air to saidV furnace, a collector for receiving the products of combustion from the furnace and separating thecarbon from the products of combustion, a. cooler interposed between the collector and the furnace for reducing the temperatureV and increasing the density ofthe products of combustion, and -areheater interposed between vthe cooler and the recovering carbon black from a, hydrocarbon gas, the combinationy of a furnace adapted to receive and artially burn hydrocarbon gas by the sup ily of an insuliieient amount of 'collector for the oxygen lfor complete combustion,`means for continuously supplying a hydrocarbon gas to said furnace, regulatablemeans for supplying a predetermined quantity of air to the furnace, a collector for receiving the products of combustion from the furnace and separating the liberated carbon therefrom, a cooler interposed between the furnace and the collector for reducing perature and increasing the density of the products l of combustion passing from the furnace, a reheater for reheat-ing the gases as they pass from the cooler to the collector, and a suction fan for assisting` in the rmaintenance of the draft of the system andl imparting a predetermined Velocity to the products and gases through the cooling and collecting system.

i 56. In an apparatus for separating and recovering carbon black from a hydrocarbon gas, the combination of a furnace for partially burning a hydrocarbon gas and conning therein the products of combustion at a predetermined temperature, means for air supply means for supplying a regulatabl'e quantity of air to said furnace, said furnace being arranged to permit the gases to burn freely without the abstraction of substantial quantities of heat, a collector for receiving the products of combustion from the furnace and separating the liberated carbon from the gases, a cooling system consisting of restricted passages interposed between the collector and the furnace, and means for insuring a draft of a predetermined pressure through the system. j

57. In an apparatus for producing carbon black from a hydrocarbon gas the combination of a furnace adapted to partially burn and dissociate the hydrocarbon gas to form a suspension of finely divided carbon in an atmosphere of gaseous products of combustion and dissociation, said furnace being substantially free from heat abstracting means, means including a` bag lteri arrangedto receive the products from said furnace and separate the suspended carbon therefrom.

58. In an apparatus for separating and recovering carbon black from a hydrocarbon gas, the combination of a furnace of dimensions suchf that it is adapted to receivea hydrocarbon gas at a point near thebottom the, tem-l.

thereof and after partial burning of the f same to confine in the upper portionsthereof the products of combustion resulting from restricted outlet near the to thereof, a collector for receiving the pro ucts of combustion `and separating thev liberated carbon vfrom the products, and a cooling .system interposed between said collector and the refio' stricted outlet which is adapted to receive `y the products of combustion passing from the l furnace Lfor the purpose set forth..

f 59. In an apparatus for producin carbon lI black from hydrocarbons the com ination of a furnace of comparatively large dimen- `ions and adapted receive the hydrocar-l bons at a oint near the bottom-thereof and afterpartlally burning the same to receive 10 the resulting products in large volumes in the upper part thereof, means for supplying air and the hydrocarbons continuously to the furnace in regulated quantities, a collector for receivingthe products of combustion, a u' cooling system of restricted dimensions interposed between the furnace and the co1- lector, and a suction fan for taking the products from the top of the furnace and passing them at a high velocity through the n coolin system and collector.

60. n apparatus for producing carbon black bythe partial oxidation of hydrocarbon gases which comprises a furnace arran d to permit the partial oxidation of u the ydrocarbon gases with regulated quantities of air in a body of hot products of combustion unobstructed with heat abstracting means and of a size to permit the dissocation of the hydrocarbons and means out-y in lside of said. furnace to separate the carbon from the gaseous reactionproducts.'

61. In an a paratus for producing carbon black, the com ination of a furnace in which -a hydrocarbon is burned with air supplied thereto in insuilicient quantities to burn said hydrocarboncomgletely; means for supplying the air and t e hydrocarbon to the 'furnace; a port disposed in the furnace for discharging the combustion products; meansn o connected to the port for isolating vthe carbon black product; and an auxiliary port opening in'the furnace adapted to be operated in conjunction with the discharge port opening f orthe purpose set-forth. 62. In an a paratus for producing carbon black, the com ina-tion ofl a furnace 1n which a. hydrocarbon is burned with air supplied thereto in insufficient uantities to burn said hydrocarbon complete y; means for supply- I ing the air and the hydrocarbon to the furf nace; a port disposed in the furnace for` discharging the combustion products; means connected to the port for isolating the carbon black product; and an auxiliaryjport opening in the furnace adapted to be operate inconjunctiomwith the ischarge port opening for.exhausting products of combustion. 63. In apparatus for producing carbon I Ablack from a hydrocarbon, the combination 00 of a chamber, a burner in the' base of 'said chamber, -means for supplying the hydrocarbon to lsaid furnace, means for supplying oxygen to said furnace, means for controllingthe movement of ses through'said s chambercomprising a v ve'inthe upper portion of the furnace, means for removing the 64. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination of a chamber, a burner in the base of said chamber, means for conveying a hydrocarbon and oxygento said burner, a valve in the upper portion of the chamber, an outlet port in said chamber, an outlet conduit connected lto said port, a cooling apparatus connected to said conduit, a

separator connected to said conduit for sepa-'f 'rating products of combustion withdrawn from said chamber, and` an exhaust pump attached to said conduitadapted'to conduct gases from saidchamber to said separator.

65. In an apparatus-of the class described, the combinatlon of a chamber aburner in the base of said chamber, means for Vconveying a hydrocarbon andv oxygen to said burner, a valve in the upper portion' of the chamber, an outlet port in said chamber, an outlet conduit connected to said port, a cooling' apparatus connected to said conduit, a separator connected to said conduit for separating products of combustion Withdrawn from said chamber, anqexhaust pump attached to `said vconduit yadapted to'conduct gases from said chamber to said separator, and a valve in said conduit for Iregulating the rate of flow of gases therein.

. 66. The method of roducin and recovering carbon fromfa ydrocar n gas, consisting first of partially burning the gas in a furnace by supplying thereto an oxidizing agent in quantities insufficient for complete combustion and under conditions resulting in temperatures above 1000 Ffin the furnace, second passing the gases through acooling system, and third subjecting the gases to a carbon isolating process.

67 The methodof producing and recovering carbon from av ydrocarbongas, consisting of causing the gas tov issue continuously into a furnace,- partially burning the llO gas by supplying thereto an oxidizing agent v in quantities insuicient for complete combustion, confining the gases in the furnace under conditions resulting in temperatures above 1200 F. Vand subsequently cooling the lgases and recovering the carbon.

68. The method of separating and recoverd ingl carbonblack-from natural gas, consisting first of partially burning the gas in a chamber by supplying thereto an oxidizing agent inA quantities ins iiicient for fcomplete combustion and there' y liberating av portion of the carbon content and second cool-V ing the carbon suspension and passing the resulting products of combustion through a bag collector for isolating the said carbon,blaclg..

ature.

In testimonywhereof, I aix my si 

